Page 5 - Parks Canada – Waterton Lakes Visitor Centre
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visitation in Waterton has increased over time and
especially during COVID-19,” he says. “We anticipate
around 500,000 visitors annually, or up to five
million people in the next ten years to visit this
particular visitor center.”
BLACKFOOT CULTURE
Waterton Lakes National Park is in Treaty 7
territory and has long been a place of significance
for the region’s Indigenous peoples, including
the Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot) peoples. Rasheed
says that Parks Canada is honoured to work in
collaboration with Indigenous partners across the
country, and that special care was taken to ensure
the materials developed reflect local Indigenous
history, traditions, culture and connection to
and has been developed to integrate seamlessly
Waterton Lakes National Park (Paahtómahksikimi -
into the Waterton townsite.
inner sacred lake in the mountains).
According to Parks Canada, “Waterton Lakes
“We anticipate around 500,000 visitors
National Park is a place of convergence—steep
annually, or up to five million people in the next
mountains abruptly meet wind-swept prairie;
ten years to visit this particular visitor center.”
distinct ecosystems intersect; diverse animals
and plants mix; and people come together.”
“As visitors enter the centre, an Indigenous welcome
The visitor centre reflects that convergence by
song is played with nods to local Indigenous cultural
including modern interpretive exhibits, interpretive
continuing throughout the building,” says Rasheed.
programming, and visitor information services.
“We're really excited about working closely with
Exhibits highlight the area’s substantial biodiversity,
our Indigenous partners on developing Indigenous
unique landscapes and the forces of nature that
exhibits that reflect their history.”
shape them, including wind and wildfire. “The centre offers a combination of modern
(Photo Credit – Parks Canada) Superintendent with Parks Canada, says the timing interpretive exhibits and then Indigenous
Salman Rasheed, Waterton Lakes’ Field Unit
of the centre’s opening couldn’t be better. “The
interpretive programming and visitor information
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